Are they too long? Tall I guess would be a better term... anyhow, never saw any coils from a 2WD, so don't really know about that. However, the 2.5 ton front coils I swapped into my 1/2 ton suburban were taller than the stock ones, (and made of thicker steel too) but the base and top were the same diameter as the stock ones, so they worked just fine, only they were a ***** to compress and get into the A frame because of the extra height. However, when all was said and done and I got 3 new leaves made for my rear springs, I ended up with a 3.5" lift kit on my 2WD chevy suburban. Handles stiffer and snappier than stock, more like my '79 corvette stingray than a suburban. Anyhow, I think stuff like that is largely subjective too, what one person likes and is looking for in ride and handling characteristics might be horrible to another person. Personally I have never liked that boatlike, dip and sway, soft cadillac kind of ride on any vehicle. So the now harder, tighter ride on the suburban was just what I was looking for. Plus, I can tow a heavier trailer, have a tighter off road ride with less dipping and bottoming over rough terrain, and I can drift her around a U turn at 45 mph and maintain control. I have lifted a lot of vehicles over the years by using heavier duty springs off a heavier vehicle (you'd be surprised a how much GM stuff is physically swappable from one vehicle to another, allowing gearheads like me to create what is and what never should be) and I can honestly say I have never had this cause a problem with control or handling. I do use heavier rate shocks to go along with the heavier springs, and of course the ride characteristics are often radically changed, but it cuts down on a lot of things that are often considered undesireable... front end dip, body roll, understeer, excessive bouncing or dipping when going over potholes or large bumps. I even had a Chevelle with a suspension from a 5000 lb vehicle on it that I managed to get airborne once with no ill effects.
Dave
